Increased levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood can be a sign of prostate cancer. However, cancer is just one of several possible causes of increased PSA.

Prostate tissue normally releases small amounts of PSA into your blood. When the prostate grows, PSA levels increase. When the entire prostate is removed, PSA levels fall close to zero. Most procedures used to treat an enlarged prostate remove only part of the prostate, which partially decreases PSA levels. After any enlarged prostate procedure, a number of factors can cause PSA levels to go up again. For example:

Prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cells in remaining prostate tissue or in other parts of your body can release PSA.

Following PSA levels during and after treatment. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-treating-p-s-a-levels-after-treatment. Accessed Jan. 14, 2015.

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